Citigroup closing in South Bend hitting close to home for more than just employees

SOUTH BEND Â? Nearly 200 workers face an uncertain future after word that Citigroup's South Bend bill processing center will close this June. Now, many of those employees are trying to decide what their next move will be.

Some employees WSBT spoke with say they saw the layoffs coming. 40 workers were let go there last year, and Citi announced plans early this year to improve efficiency and cut costs worldwide, as profit margins shrank amid the growing sub-prime mortgage crisis.

For some, that plan has suddenly hit very close to home.

Chris Hefron is one of those affected. He says the words stung as he read them on his computer Wednesday night.

"I found out when I was checking my email," he said. "And I was like 'they're closing? I couldn't believe it!"

As a repair technician for Pitney-Bowes, he's been assigned to service mailing machines full time at Citi's South Bend billing center for the last four years, and he quickly grew to understand that America's mortgage problem was turning into a crisis for Citi.

The company has already laid off tens-of-thousands of workers world wide, and that list now includes many of Chris' close friends.

"It stings a little bit," said Phil Damico, of the St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce. "I don't think any of us can hide the fact that there's a number of jobs that are going to be lost. But there's families involved, individuals, and jobs. That hurts."

And Citi workers WSBT spoke with said it hurts deeply. All refused to talk about it on camera, saying they "couldn't comment" and "were not allowed to speak to the media."

One worker then told us why.

"I can't lose my severance pay," she said.

But Chris Hefron says some employees aren't taking that severance package, including him.

"They found me a job to where I can still work," he said. "My last day here is Sunday."

He hopes others can get transfers, too, so they don't end up in the unemployment line.

"I really hope everybody is able to get something by the time it happens, because I really hate to see someone let go, and then their family has to suffer for it," he said.

A Citigroup spokesman said late Thursday that executives will help all 194 employees try to find other jobs within the company.